A person who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
